Article of Faith #6 o We believe that God s elect shall be called, regenerated, justified, and glorified by the Holy Spirit and that the saints will be preserved by grace and never fall finally away. 1. Calling and Regeneration A. One of the requirements in the covenant of redemption from Rom. 8:29-30 is that all of God s children will be called and regenerated at some moment in their lifetime between conception and death. God s calling of sinners to life in Christ is taught very prevalently throughout the scriptures: i. God s calling of sinners unto Himself in regeneration is described in many, various ways in scripture Calling 2 Tim. 1:9, Rom. 8:28,30, 9:11; Acts 2:39, Gal. 1:15, 1 Thess. 5:24, 1 Pet. 5:10; Jude 1:1; John 5:24-25, 10:16,27 o Drawing John 6:44, 12:32, 6:37; Jer. 31:3 o Washing Tit. 3:5, 1 Cor. 6:11, Eph. 5:26, Heb. 10:22, Rev. 1:5 o Sprinkling (of Christ s blood) 1 Pet. 1:2, Heb. 10:22 New birth (born again) John 3:3-8, 1 Pet. 1:23, John 1:13 o Regeneration Titus 3:5 Resurrection from death to life o John 5:24-25, Col. 3:1, John 11:43, 1 John 3:14 o Quickening Eph. 2:1,5; Col. 2:13, John 5:21, 6:63 New creation 2 Cor. 5:17, Eph. 2:10, 4:24 B. Necessity of the new birth for the child of God i. Man must be born again to enter into the heavenly kingdom John 3:3,5,7 3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 5) Jesus answered, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. i All of God s children will be born again at some moment in their lives between conception and death Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, o Heb. 8:11, Rom. 8:30, John 3:3-8, John 6:37 Gal. 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. o Rom. 8:15-16 Every child of God is born again in the same manner John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell when it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. o Acts 4:12, 15:11; Titus 2:11 1
1. Calling and Regeneration (continued) C. Sovereignty of God in the new birth i. The new birth is based on God s grace, not on man s works 2 Tim. 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, o Titus 3:5, Rom. 9:11, Acts 15:11 i iv. The new birth is determined by God s will, not man s will John 1:12-13 12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God, John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. o John 3:8, Rom. 9:15-16 The new birth is performed by God at a time determined by His own will and purpose, not as a reaction that was caused by the work of man John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell when it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. o John 1:12-13, Rom. 9:11-13, 2 Tim. 1:9, Titus 3:5 Gal. 1:15-16 15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother s womb, and called me by his grace, 16) To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: o Acts 9:1-6, 22:5-10, 26:14-18; Gal. 2:21 Man has no ability to come unto God in his fallen nature, dead in sins; so God must be the great Initiator to draw and bring all His children unto Him John 6:44 No man can come unto me, except the Father which hast sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." o John 12:32, Jer. 31:3, Hosea 11:4 Ps. 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee D. The Effectual Call and Irresistible Grace i. God s call unto man always produces the intended result in the recipient. Therefore, the new birth is also referred to as the effectual call because God s calling is always effectual (effective) in its intended purpose. Isaiah 55:10-11 10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not hither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 2
1. Calling and Regeneration (continued) D. The Effectual Call and Irresistible Grace (continued) i iv. Man has no ability to reject the call of God unto him because man is dead in trespasses and sins, with no ability to either accept or reject. Since God s grace that is imparted into the heart of God s children cannot be rejected or resisted by man as the recipient, this doctrine is also known as irresistible grace Gal. 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother s womb, and called me by his grace, o John 5:25, 6:37, 10:27, Titus 2:11, 1 Cor. 15:10, Heb. 8:11 Rom. 9:19 For who hath resisted his will? o Gal. 1:15-16, Isaiah 14:24, Dan. 4:34-35 Man, who is dead in sins, does not have the power to reject the voice of the Son of God that calls unto them all of God s children who are dead will be given life by the power of the voice of Jesus Christ John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. Jesus has the words of life John 6:63,68 Jesus went to the dead and raised them to life by the power of His voice o a) John 11:43, b) Luke 7:14-15, c) Luke 8:52-56 All of God s sheep will hear the voice of their Great Shepherd, and all the sheep will follow Jesus Christ John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (also see John 10:14,16) v. All that God calls upon will come unto Him John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. vi. All that God calls will know the Lord John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Heb. 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. o Gal. 4:6, Rom. 8:15-16 E. Effects of the new birth i. New heart and new nature Heb. 8:10-11, 10:16; 1 Thess. 4:9; 2 Cor. 3:3; Rom. 2:15; Ps. 37:30-31, 40:8; Jer. 31:33; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:10, 4:24 i Fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5:22-23, 1 John 4:13 Love shown unto others 1 John 3:14, 4:7,12; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 John 4:19-21, Rom. 8:28 3
1. Calling and Regeneration (continued) E. Effects of the new birth (continued) iv. Belief in Jesus Christ 1 John 5:1, 4:2, 4:15, 5:9-11, 5:13; 1 Cor. 12:3 John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:47, John 8:47, John 10:26-28 v. Doing righteousness and following God s commandments 1 John 2:3-5, 2:29, 3:7 vi. Response to spiritual things Rom. 8:14-17, 1 Cor. 2:10-14 Given ears to hear Matt. 11:15, 13:9,16,43; Rev. 2:7,11,17,29, etc. 2. Justification A. All of the elect who were predestinated by God the Father and called by the Holy Spirit have also been eternally justified by the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ Rom. 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified them, he also glorified. B. Sinners are only justified in the sight of God by the blood of Jesus Christ Rom. 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 2 Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 1 Cor. 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; C. For more detailed explanation, see Article of Faith 5 Justification by Christ 3. Glorification A. All of the elect who were predestinated by God the Father, called by the Holy Spirit, and justified by the death of Jesus Christ will finally be glorified at the return of Jesus Rom. 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified them, he also glorified. Rom. 8:18,30, 9:23; Col. 3:3-4 Heb. 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. B. In what manner will the elect be glorified? i. The elect will be changed into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 4
3. Glorification (continued) B. In what manner will the elect be glorified? (continued) i. The elect will be changed into image and likeness of Jesus Christ (continued) 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Ps. 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. The elect will be resurrected and glorified in the same body that they inhabited during their earthly life 1 Thess. 5:23-24 23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Job 19:26-27 26) And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27) Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. 1 Cor. 15:51-54 51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. o 1 Thess. 4:13-17, Col. 3:3-4 4. Preservation of the Saints A. All of God s children are preserved in Christ and will never finally fall away Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Rom. 8:28-30, Heb. 10:14 Ps. 37:28-29 28) For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29) The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. Ps. 31:23, Ps. 145:20, Ps. 97:10 1 Thess. 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ps. 97:10 5
4. Preservation of the Saints (continued) A. All of God s children are preserved in Christ and will never finally fall away (continued) 2 Tim. 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. B. No child of God can ever be taken out of the hand of the Father John 10:27-29 27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father s hand. John 6:39 And this is the Father s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. John 6:37-40,44; Isaiah 49:16; John 5:24 C. God Himself will prevent any child from falling away Covenant of God Ps. 89:30-34 34) My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. o 2 Sam. 23:5, Isaiah 54:10, Rom. 8:28-30, 1 Kings 8:56 Promise of God Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; o Heb. 6:17-18, 10:23; Ps. 89:34, Mal. 3:6, James 1:17, Heb. 13:8 o John 14:19 because I live, ye shall live also. o John 14:3 Jesus promised to return to fetch his people home Col. 3:3-4, 1 Thess. 4:17 Power of God 1 Pet. 1:4-5 4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. o Jude 1:24, 1 John 5:4, Heb. 2:13, Ps. 37:23-24, 125:2 Faithfulness of God 1 Thess. 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. o Heb. 10:23; Rev. 3:14, 19:11; 1 Cor. 1:9, 10:13; 2 Thess. 3:3 Ps. 89:30-34 33) Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail o Isaiah 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged o Heb. 13:5 I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 2 Tim. 2:13,18-19 13) If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 18) Who concerning the truth have erred 19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. o Col. 3:3 your life is hid with Christ in God. 6
4. Preservation of the Saints (continued) C. God Himself will prevent any child from falling away (continued) Love of God Rom. 8:35,38-39 35) Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. o God s love is everlasting so, naturally, it lasts forever Jer. 31:3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Ps. 89:33, John 17:23-24 D. God the Father planned salvation in election, the Holy Spirit applies salvation to the heart of the sinner in calling, Jesus Christ secured salvation by His death on the cross, and the work that God began to save sinners will be finally completed by Jesus Christ when He returns to bring all of His elect children home to heaven the work that God started, He will complete and bring to perfect fulfillment in the elect Phil. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7